Warning! This article contains SPOILERS for The Acolyte episode 5
Summary
The Sith Lord ofThe Acolytedecimated the Jedi, and he used a devastating new type of lightsaber to do it.The Acolyteepisode 5 finally revealed the long awaitedidentity of the show’s Sith Lord, and it was none other than Qimir, Mae’s trusty helper. That wasn’t the only surprise the episode had in store, though, as Qimir also had a very unusual - and surprising - lightsaber at his disposal. He used it to rip through a big chunk ofThe Acolyte’s cast of characters, which gave his lightsaber a devastating first appearance.
There are severaltypes of lightsabers inStar Warscanon, from the standard single blade used by most Jedi and Sith to more unique types like double-bladed and the lightspear. Some types of lightsabers are significantly more common than others, and the Sith Lord ofThe Acolytehas a particularly unique one. His type of lightsaber has never been seen in anyStar Warsmovie or show, and its first live-action appearance caught all the Jedi by surprise. Though Qimir’s blade was surprisingly game-changing and rule-breaking, there is a bit of information about it that can be parsed fromThe Acolyte.
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The Sith Lord’s Lightsaber Can Be Split Into Two Blades
In a particularly high-adrenaline moment,Qimir separated his lightsaber at the hilt and turned it into two smaller blades. In the heat of battle, this helped him surprise Jecki Lon and kill her before she could react to the new configuration. This type of dual-wield lightsaber has been used inStar Warscanon before, by Cal Kestis in theStar Wars Jedigames. There are a few key differences between Cal’s and Qimir’s lightsabers, though, and it seems Qimir’s was specifically designed to deceive his opponents, among other things.
Jecki Lon
Jecki is the Padawan apprentice to Master Sol. Although she is young, she projects calm and conducts herself with maturity.
How Does This New Version Of A Double Lightsaber Work?
While Cal’s lightsaber seems to be different from Qimir’s, it can still offer some insight into how it works.Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Ordershowed that Cal’s lightsaber was powered by a kyber crystal that had broken in two.That was a key factor in allowing Cal’s lightsaber to split into two blades, and Qimir’s likely also required two kyber crystals. The need for two crystals likely applied doubly to Qimir, since his second blade was completely hidden within the hilt of his full lightsaber. Since Qimir’s blades were facing the same direction, the second blade’s emitter also separates the two crystals.
Cal Kestis' dual-wield lightsaber broke away from his double-bladed lightsaber, meaning each blade was facing a separate direction, and his enemies could tell he had two blades.
Qimir’s lightsaber also differs from other types already seen in live-actionStar Wars. Characters like the Inquisitors have used double-bladed lightsabers in the past, and Ahsoka Tano is well-known for using two separate lightsabers to dual-wield. Those lightsaber types typically use a single kyber crystal, but there are other lightsabers that use two kyber crystals. Darth Vader’s blade, for example, had two crystals so he could change the length of his blade at will. Darth Maul, as well, had two crystals to ignite either or both ends of his saber.Using two kyber crystals seems to often be a mark of the dark side.
The Stranger’s Lightsaber Is Designed To Deceive
Qimir, who has beenidentified as The Stranger in officialStar Warsmerchandise, used this new lightsaber for one specific purpose: deception.Star Warsrevealed thatThe Stranger’s lightsaber really workedas two completely separate blades. His second blade was essentially a lightsaber dagger combined with a regular-length blade, akin to Ahsoka Tano’s shorter shoto blade that she used with her normal lightsaber.The key difference between The Stranger and Ahsoka, however, is still the fact that The Stranger’s dagger was hidden to his opponents. That made it a surprise to those he fought, and it blended well with his unique lightsaber combat form.
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The Stranger used a new lightsaber combat form that was relegated toStar WarsLegends years ago. Thelightsaber technique was known as Trakata, and it was essentially a way of fighting that broke the common rules of lightsaber combat. It relied heavily on deceptive practices and dirty tricks, such as shutting off the lightsaber mid swing so it would avoid an opponent’s block only to reignite it as it made contact.The Stranger’s dagger fits perfectly with Trakata: it’s a trick designed to artificially gain an edge through the power of surprise.
The Two Blades Are Separated With A Twist
A very important part of The Stranger’s lightsaber is the fact that he needed to twist the second blade off the handle of his main weapon to separate them.This seems like a small feature meant to keep the lightsabers together, but it also connects Qimir to a different character fromThe Acolyte: Vernestra Rwoh.Vernestra famously wielded the lightwhip, a type of lightsaber that could lose its rigid blade-like shape and act more like a rope, or whip. She could cycle between both forms, and the way she did so was by twisting part of the handle, just as Qimir did.
Vernestra Rwoh
A prodigy among the Jedi of the High Republic, Vernestra “Vern” Rwoh was one of the youngest Jedi ever to achieve the rank of Knight. She served at a time of crisis for the Republic, battling on the front lines against the Nihil, the Nameless, and the Drengir, and proving herself wise beyond her years. Vern will appear in live-action in The Acolyte, set over a hundred years after she became a Master, at the tail end of the High Republic Era.
The Acolytewill almost certainly bring another new lightsaber into live-action with the lightwhip, but its connection to Qimir’s dual-wield blades could run even deeper. A major goal ofThe Acolytehas been to examine and critique the Jedi, especially as they relate to the Sith.The fact that Qimir uses a trick lightsaber seems like a dirty way to fight, but Vernestra’s lightsaber may be similarly deceptive. It seemsThe Acolytecould be setting itself up to assert that the Jedi aren’t as different from the Sith as they seem, and Qimir’s lightsaber could be the first sign of that.
It’s also interesting to note that Vernestra’s lightwhip has given her quite an edge in battle before, but The Stranger’s dagger could take that away. Smaller lightsaber blades like the dagger or Ahsoka’s shoto blade were first introduced inStar WarsLegends when Luke Skywalker designed one to combat Lumiya’s lightwhip. Luke could then defend from Lumiya’s lightwhip with his main lightsaber and attack with the shorter shoto, effectively countering her unfair advantage. The Stranger could use the same tactic to counter Vernestra’s, which could be an indication Qimir’s Jedi killing spree inThe Acolyteisn’t over yet.
The Acolyte
Cast
The Acolyte is a television series set in the Star Wars universe at the end of the High Republic Era, where both the Jedi and the Galactic Empire were at the height of their influence. This sci-fi thriller sees a former Padawan reunite with her former Jedi Master as they investigate several crimes - all leading to darkness erupting from beneath the surface and preparing to bring about the end of the High Republic.
